Spanish Cross Help

[BobI]

Hi Guys!
I think this is original but would like to verufy that, please let me know what you think.
Thanks!
Bob

[BobI]

2

[Sal Williams]

No Bob, definitly not!

Best, Sal

[BobI]

Thanks Sal, so I own another wonderful fake
Best Wishes,
Bob

[Sal Williams]

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news

[BobI]

Sal, it happens and it is better to know!
Thanks
Bob

[jacques]

I confirm, it is a fake

[Robert P.]

No ribbons on these babies.

Robert

[Bob Hritz]

Manufactured by Firma Rudolf Souval, in Vienna. I haven't seen one of these since the late 1970s.

Souval did a very nice job on these, but added the wrong pattern eagle.

Bob hritz

[Robert P.]

Right, the tail is the tell-tale sign. That rascal Souval.

Robert

[Sal Williams]

No ribbons on these babies.

Robert

It is supposed to be the next of kin, Robert, which does have a ribbon.

Best, Sal

[Sal Williams]

Manufactured by Firma Rudolf Souval, in Vienna. I haven't seen one of these since the late 1970s.

Souval did a very nice job on these, but added the wrong pattern eagle.

Bob hritz

Bob , that is very interesting info! Why did they use that eagle style which as I understand was never used on badges, but rather buckles and other items?

[Bob Hritz]

Sal,

Because Vienna was located outside of the German borders, they were not bothered by either Russion occupation or the other Allies, for denazification. Souval designed their own dies for medals they did not make during the war. The also bought dies of other companies, in Germany, as well as left over inventory, when it could be found.

The firma Souval is an old firm, and the market for war souvenirs, post war, was very strong. Thy sold off old inventory and continued making new medals, badges, and orders until the 1980s, when Direktor Unlauff sadly passed away. The dies and left over inventory were sold to an "Eastern concern" according to my conversation with the new staff, while I was visiting in 1999.

Herr and Frau Umlauff were kind and answered many letters I sent them asking questions about production, wartime and post-war. They were fine people and made medals, badges and awards for collectors and dealers, and treated everyone with dignity and respect. They incorporated many changes to the post-war products and were always glad to share information on determining what they made during the 1933-1945 era.

My friendship with the Umlauff was strictly by mail. I was terribly saddened to have learned they had both passed to the Great Void, before I got to Vienna to thank them personally for the vast information and extreme patience they had provided to a young Bob Hritz.

Best regards,
Bob

[Robert P.]

It is supposed to be the next of kin, Robert, which does have a ribbon.

Best, Sal

Yes, Sal. If they went to all the trouble to make this fake back in the 70's, why didn't they just put hardware on the reverse at least? Why a ribbon?

Sorry, Bob, no disrespect to the Umlauff family.

Robert

[Bob Hritz]

A Souval ancedote:

I had written to Herr Umlauff to ask him about my copy Arts and Sciences award, that I had bought, at a show. Herr Souval was indignant because he WAS authorized to make a wearing copy of the award, during the Third Reich era. With my poloroid photo, Herr Umlauff advised me it was of "old production". No one would accept it as that today! He had the orders, in his safe, he wrote me. I took this lightly until a friend had visited the shop and was shown the original orders issued by Dr. Doehle,. I wrote back to Herr Umhauff and and he was kind enough to provide me an old production case, which was missing the top lining and which he had replaced for me. Such was the kindness of a big businessman for a youngster.

I would buy a lot of 1000 medals, badges, shields, etc, for the vast sum of $600 US. It would take 3 months for them to arrive by sea mail, but all were WWII production. Such were the days of the late 1960s.

Bob Hritz